GERMAN DREADNOUGHTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 75, 28 March 1916, Page 7

GERMAN DREADNOUGHTS.

THE EMPIRE »S CONTRIBUTION. AUCKLAND, March 25. “There are in Auckland to-day,” says Mr. Parr, M.P., ‘ ‘ people whose patriotism, I am sorry to say, does not rise above their pockets. There are shopkeepers and merchants who held German stock at the beginning of the war, and who will continue to import foreign goods after the war, because it is cheap and profitable, if we permit them to do so. The Chamber of Commerce would do good work in getting a black list for the future of all houses doing in German goods. The public ought to know who they are. Moreover, the New Zealand public itself needs education in this matter. The average customer will take the cheapest article without making any inquiry as to its origin. We shall do well to inculcate a more patriotic spirit. If people only realised how much they injure the Empire and themselves they would spurn Germanmade goods. To some extent I think we shall have to protect the people "gainst themselves. “When Parliament last session deided to increase the duties on enemy oods by 50 per cent., 1 endeavoured | o get it made 100 per cent., but faild. I am satisfied now that probably 0 duty, however high, will keep eneiy goods out after the war. The only ray to effect what wo want is to to otally prohibit enemy goods coming nto the country, and fine and imprism those who deal in them. That we iave been foolish in the past is proved by figures. In 1913-1914 we importid £687,935 worth of German goods, ind we also exported to Germany £337,)00 worth. This means that there was 1 million pounds wmrth of trade with 3-ermany. The balance of trade in favour of Germany to the Brtish Empire in the year 1913 was £82,000,000 sterling. This moans that the Empire presented practically 35 Dreadnoughts to the Germans.”